half life slave

Chapter 37

When the little fairy tale sound fell, the onlookers were all in an uproar.Rong Yu was not very surprised, after all, there are many talented people in the south of the Yangtze River. He has heard of Xu Ziwei's name for a long time. Not many calligraphy and paintings flowed into the capital, and there was no chance to see them in the past.

The middle-aged man woke up like a dream at this time, smiling like a flower, "It turns out that you are Mr. Xu, disrespectful and disrespectful, Mr. is very talented, educated and rich, famous in the south of the Yangtze River, I am so blind that I don't know it, so I offended you just now." Please, Mr. Haihan." His attitude was condescending, but he suddenly became very affectionate, and he sat with Xu Ziwei on his own, while serving food and drinks.

Xu Ziwei smiled and let the man talk about it. He just bowed slightly and waved to Shen Hui, "It's hard to find a bosom friend, so I must invite this master to have a drink and talk together."

The middle-aged man didn't care about it, and followed Da Lala's invitation, Shen Hui didn't refuse, motioned for Rong and followed, got up and moved over, and sat with them.

After a while, Xu Ziwei had already drank several cups. He was a little drunk before, but now he was even more hazy. After drinking the wine in his glass, he suddenly tugged on Shen Hui's sleeve, got up and went out.

The middle-aged man hastily stretched out his hand to block it, "Sir, please stop, Mr. Xu, can you sell the fan just now?"

Xu Ziwei raised his eyebrows and slanted his eyes, and whispered two words, "Not for sale."

The face of the middle-aged man showed sullenness, and he was still unwilling, "I would like to give a thousand dollars! Today I will definitely buy the master's masterpiece."

As if Xu Ziwei hadn't heard of it, he pulled Shen Hui up and walked while laughing. The middle-aged man shouted anxiously behind him, "Why are you so rude?" Seeing that Xu Ziwei didn't intend to stop, he said angrily, " If you don’t sell fans, you should pay back the money for the wine just now.”

Xu Zi looked back slightly, and looked at him disdainfully, "You forced me to eat, and I didn't ask you to treat me. Is there any reason not to accept the white pie in the sky?"

The middle-aged man had nothing to do with him, his face was flushed with anxiety, when a man in soap clothes walked over from the crowd, who seemed to be the local county government officer.This person also seemed to know Xu Ziwei, and pulled him to persuade him, "Mr. Xu is a celebrity, but who in Gusu City doesn't know? But does Mr. know who this master is?"

Xu Ziwei hiccupped, with an undisguised look of madness, "I've never seen it, nor heard of it."

The catcher shook his head and chuckled, "This is Master Zhu Fu Zhu, the head of the four richest merchants in Hangzhou City. No wonder you don't recognize him, but people have heard of your name. Since you are sincerely buying paintings, if you really don't want to sell this Fan, why not draw another one for him now?" As he spoke, he persuaded in a lower voice, "Just give me a face, and don't offend people too hard."

Xu Ziwei snorted, shook his head and said, "Master Zhu didn't like my face, why don't I draw one for you immediately, as a reward for your hospitality."

Zhu Fu was overjoyed immediately, and kept urging the shopkeeper to prepare pens, inks and paper for the study room. Xu Zi was afraid to dip his pens and inks but did not write. He just smiled at him and said, "Master Zhu, please turn around."

Although Zhu Fu didn't understand what he meant, he still turned his back to him according to his words. Xu Ziwei immediately swiped the brush, and just swiped the brush on his clothes.When he put down his pen, everyone was amazed when they saw it. Immediately, some laughed out loud, some were stunned, and many people looked at each other in amazement.

Rong Yu was standing next to Xu Ziwei, he had seen it clearly before, now he was staring at Zhu Fu's back, he thought it was funny, and he couldn't help but slander Xu Ziwei for being too crazy.Turning around, they happened to meet Shen Hui's eyes, and they both shook their heads in tacit understanding.

Hearing the roar of laughter, Zhu Fu didn't know what was drawn on his back. Out of curiosity, he took off his shirt and held it in his hands to look at it excitedly. But the next moment his face turned purple, his eyes widened, and he stretched out his hand to point at Xu Ziwei furiously. .The catcher on the side couldn't see it either, and said angrily, "It's unreasonable!"

Xu Ziwei didn't care at all, turned his head up and smiled, and said to the crowd, "The thing I painted, doesn't it match this Master Zhu? Just now he devalued my fan to nothing, now it's evened!" After finishing speaking, he pulled Shen Hui up and walked away.

He strode all the way, walked a few meters, and laughed more and more happily. After laughing, he raised his eyebrows and asked, "The thing I gave to Zhu Fu, how is the painting?"

Shen Hui smiled, "Stupid, lifelike."

Xu Ziwei looked arrogant, and raised the corners of his mouth, "The bastard gave Zhu Fu a perfect match! Tomorrow this matter will become a joke in Gusu City!" After a short pause, he cupped his hands and said, "Did you ask the respect?"

Shen Hui pondered for a while, and reported the three characters of Qin Yuanxi, which was a combination of his mother's surname and Biaozi.

Xu Ziwei handed over the fan, but he was very sincere, "Today we met by fate, Xu gave this fan to Mr. Qin, please accept it."

Rong Yu knew that he was famous for his talents, and it would be difficult for a daughter to buy a pair of painting and calligraphy, but now he is willing to give it away for nothing, it seems that he has favored Shen Hui.

Shen Hui just smiled, took the fan, and ordered Rong Yu to take out the silver, saying that even if it was just a symbol, he should do his best.

Xu Ziwei saw that he insisted, so he simply smiled and took ten taels of silver, but he refused to charge more, "A sword is matched with a hero, and red powder is given to a beautiful woman. It is hard to find a soulmate in the world, and it is rare for Mr. Qin to understand me. Please do it." Don't embarrass me with some dumb things anymore."

Shen Hui was not polite to him, and nodded happily, so Xu Ziwei invited him to drink and chat in Bieye outside the city.

Rong Yu didn't dare to let Shen Hui wander outside, but remembered that he was going to visit Xiao Zhengzhong, and suddenly he had a flash of inspiration, and bowed to Xu Ziwei and said, "Thank you, sir, for the invitation, but it's not early, and the Patriarch is inconvenient to bother, the villain has something I would like to ask you to help me. Since the head of the family has just arrived in Suzhou, he wants to visit Mr. Xiao Zhengzhong to ask for a pair of calligraphy. I heard that Mr. Xiao does not meet any strangers. I wonder if you can introduce him so that the head of the family can have a chance to visit him?"

Xu Ziwei squinted his drunken eyes, looked at Rong Yu, and secretly thought that this Qin Yuanxi must be the son of a family, and even the servants around him behaved calmly and elegantly, and spoke calmly and politely.After a long while, he smiled leisurely, "That old man Xiao, it's easy to say, since Mr. Qin wants to see him, I will definitely make it happen. At three o'clock tomorrow, please ask Mr. Qin to wait for me outside the gate of Chang, and I will lead you to see the old man." .”

Shen Hui smiled slightly and nodded, Fang and him thanked each other.He didn't say much anymore, and wandered away with the little boy.

Early the next morning, Rong Yu helped Shen Hui get dressed first, because he wanted to accompany him to Xiao's residence, he specially asked the guards to buy a bunt, pretending to be a servant.

It caused Shen Hui to stare at him with interest, although his face was faint, there were smiles in his eyes, "It's a pity, such a description, pretending to be a boss, isn't it a waste of money."

Seeing that he is in a good mood today, I think it is because he met Xu Ziwei last night, such a madness is rare in Beijing, let alone in the court, no one dares to be so frivolous in front of the emperor, so I find it fresh and interesting .

It's just that his spirit was full, and his teasing energy came out again, and Rong Yu became the best target for his jokes.

Rong Yu couldn't help but laugh, this could be regarded as a compliment, if he was praised by the master on the side, he would have to smile happily, and talk about flattery in a hurry.

Although there was a faint smile on his face, he couldn't say the flattering words after all, so after thinking about it, he simply remained silent, walked beside Shen Hui with half a step, and waited for him to go out.

That Xiao's house was originally a typical Jiangnan garden, Xu Ziwei led Shen Hui and his two through the sedan chair hall, garden, and curved corridor all the way to a small courtyard in the southwest, and came to Xiao Zhengzhong's study room where he entertained guests.

Xiao Zhengzhong was over half a hundred years old, and his beard and hair were not yet white and healthy. When he saw Xu Ziwei inviting guests in, he put down the pen in his hand, smiled and said to Xu Ziwei, "I haven't seen Changpu for a long time. I thought you found another good landscape." Freehand is gone."

Changpu is Xu Ziwei's word. While greeting Xiao Zhengzhong, he introduced Shen Hui to him.

Xu Ziwei explained the reason for Shen Hui's visit, Xiao Zhengzhong first looked at Shen Hui intently, then turned to look at Rong Yu, stroked his beard for a long time, and asked Shen Hui to look at a painting that had just been made on the desk.

He painted the scenery of villages in the mountains. Surrounded by lofty mountains, you can see the openness. There is a waterfall in the mountains, which merges into a clear and shallow pond at the foot of the mountain.The village is shaded under the green shade, and there are idlers visiting each other with sticks, and their attitude is full of hermit style.

After seeing it, Shen Hui laughed and praised, "Mr. Xiao's painting has both thick and thin styles. The thick brush has the gentle and simple style of Shen Zhou, but also has the interest of delicate and neat. The fine brushwork is based on Wang Meng's method, which is green and thick, chic and smooth. The brush and ink are sharp and sharp. , the charm is extraordinary, it is breathtaking.”

Xiao Zhengzhong was slightly surprised, and couldn't help but look at him a few more times, while Xu Ziwei smiled and said nothing, looking at Shen Hui with some approval.

Afterwards, the three of them sat down as guest and host, Xiao Zhengzhong asked with a smile, "I wonder when Qin Xianggong and Changpu formed a fate?"

Shen Hui bluntly said that he met Xu Ziwei for the first time yesterday, and looked at Xu Ziwei while talking and smiling.The latter understood and told Xiao Zhengzhong what happened in the restaurant yesterday.Xiao Zhengzhong couldn't help laughing when he heard this, and nodded him with his hands, laughing so hard that he couldn't speak.

After laughing, he asked Shen Hui again, "From Qin Xianggong's accent, he should be from the capital. I have been away from the capital for a while, and I don't have many old friends. I don't know where Qin Xianggong knew about my old man's masterpiece? And which one is the most popular?" , can you tell me?"

Shen Hui replied half-truthfully, "Mr. Qin is indeed a native of the capital. I have seen Mr. Xiang made a picture of Mrs. Xiang, and I will never forget it after seeing it. So today I take the liberty to visit Mr. Wang's masterpiece."

Xiao Zhengzhong looked at him suspiciously, "When I was in Beijing, I often discussed painting skills with an inner court official. Before I resigned and went south, I gave this official the picture of Mrs. Xiang. He later edited books. Tell me, tell him that he has dedicated his humble work to the emperor, this happened not long after the old man left Beijing, may I ask whether Mr. Qin met that middle official, did you see him in his mansion?"

Shen Hui smiled and said, "Sun Chuanxi must be the person Mr. Qin is talking about. Qin does know him, and he has heard him praise Mr. for many times for his profound knowledge in calligraphy and painting, and his extraordinary brushwork."

Xiao Zhengzhong's complexion darkened, and he said with embarrassment, "Then Mr. Qin's trip was entrusted by Sun Bingbi to persuade the old man to enter the Beijing Academy of Painting to wait for an imperial edict?"

Shen Hui smiled faintly, but didn't answer.Knowing that Xiao Zhengzhong would be mistaken, Rong Yu was afraid that he would make Shen Hui unhappy if he did not hesitate to talk, so he hurriedly saluted, "Please rest assured, sir, the Patriarch has not been entrusted by anyone, and he has no intention of persuading him to do something he doesn't like." Seeing him There was still worry between his brows, so he simply pretended to pass on the name of Chuanxi, and told Shen Hui what he said that day to persuade Shen Hui that instead of calling him into the painting academy, he should let him be free and easy in Wuzhong, and Shen Hui's final decision.

Xiao Zhengzhong's face softened a little, and he let out a deep breath, "This old man is relieved, and I also want to thank Sun Bingbi for fulfilling it. I have been in Beijing for several years, and I have worked hard to support myself, but in the end I have achieved nothing, and I have no expectations for my official career."

Shen Hui was silent for a long time, then suddenly asked with a smile, "Sir, you have a high endowment, you are not mediocre, and you have fame. You are in the prime of life, why are you so disheartened and would rather hide in the world of mortals and entertain yourself with calligraphy and painting than Are you willing to serve the imperial court and do your best?"

His tone was calm, without ridicule or unattainable feeling, but there was an aggressive aura between the lines, Rong Yu broke into a sweat for Xiao Zheng after listening, and was even more worried that Xiao Zhengzhong's answer would arouse Shen Hui's dissatisfaction.

Fortunately, Xiao Zhengzhong didn't look angry at all, he just shook his head and smiled, "This old man has finally found the true meaning of life by making fun of the mountains and rivers here, playing with ink and teasing him, how can he just throw away his happiness for the sake of false fame."

Not much to say, obviously reserved, at least Shen Hui hoped to hear about the official strife, the other party would always keep it secret, maybe it also meant that they disagreed with each other and did not conspire with each other.

Shen Hui didn't force her, she pursed her lips and smiled, and ignored the words, "Qin is asking for a painting from Mr. Suwen, and Mr. Suwen's regular script is unparalleled in the world. One guest does not bother two masters, so I ask Mr. to give you another one." Calligraphy volume."

Xiao Zhengzhong nodded in agreement, and then took out a copy of Drunkard Pavilion written in lower regular script, the writing is neat and elegant, clear and elegant, just like silver hooks and iron scratches.

Rong Yu had to go to school since he was a child, and he was no stranger to calligraphy. Looking at it from the side, he couldn't help secretly praising it in his heart, and heard Shen Hui laughing in his ear, "Sir, you have the true meaning of Wang Youjun, and you are gentle and refined. You have heard it before. People have praised it, Mr. Kaishu is the best in the country, and it is indeed so when I saw it today."

Xiao Zhengzhong dared not do it bluntly, and sighed with regret, "I also do calligraphy in seal script, running script, official script and cursive calligraphy in my spare time, but because of my old-fashioned nature, I have more than enough correctness but not enough leisure, so I have never been able to practice cursive well. This old man has a great regret in his life." After a pause, he smiled at Shen Hui, "Sun Bingbi has always been proficient in calligraphy, and since Mr. Qin is familiar with him, he must also be good at it, can you give me a copy of the book, let me wait View?"

Rong Yu was stunned for a moment, seeing Xiao Xu and the two kept urging with their eyes, but knew that the emperor's handwriting should not be easily published outside, for fear of being taken by someone with a heart, forging notes is a big deal.

Just as he was hesitating, Shen Hui at the side suddenly touched him quietly.When I turned my head to look, I saw Shen Hui grinning and saying, "To tell you the truth, Qin suffered some minor injuries to his wrist a few days ago, so he can't write at the moment. On the contrary, I am a servant who can write quite well. The nobleman has praised it before, if you two don't mind it, you might as well give him a chance to show it off."

Sure enough, watching the excitement is not a big deal, the so-called nobleman in Beijing is probably talking about himself, Rong Yu lowered his head, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

The two of them didn't take it seriously, they had long thought that Rong Yu's appearance was handsome, his demeanor was gentle, neither humble nor overbearing like ordinary domestic slaves, so they repeatedly asked and urged each other, so that Rong Yu had no choice but to plead guilty, went to the case, and drew up a pen Dip in Hui ink, meditate for a moment, and write down two sentences: Mountains and rivers, I am cherishing my hometown, and Mizuki can share the origin.Contradictions are not the same, pay attention to each other, and the wine is full of wine in the autumn.

As soon as he finished writing, Xiao Zhengzhong kept silent with a smile on his face. Xu Ziwei clapped his hands and said with a smile, "The combination of cursive and cursive is elegant and handsome, smooth but not crazy. This handwriting is not only handy, but Mr. Qin's character is outstanding. I can't imagine that even his family members are so refined. .”

Shen Hui smiled, and immediately changed the subject, leading them to chat about literati tastes such as ancient books and rare books, and lightly skipped the two lines of handwriting without mentioning it, and didn't look at the young man in Tsing Yi standing beside him with his hands down.